I'm a fine artist, new to Adobe Illustrator. I'm in the process of designing a logo for a company using Illustrator. What type of file should I send them when all is completed, so they can use this logo in whatever way they choose?

I know Photoshop fairly well, but Illustrator is brand new to me. Slowly educating myself via Adobe's tutorials, but need to get this project done soon.

THANK YOU in advance for your help!

Also, and this is from my experience with PS, do I need to flatten layers in Illustrator before sending this to client? Please pardon my lack of Illustrator knowledge, I'm working on it! :)

4 Answers
4

I would say that you should always save and AI file as the primary source file and an EPS file as a universally editable format. These are ideal for printing, however for other uses you will need to produce a JPEG, PNG and possibly a TIFF.

AI, primary source file, use multiple artboards for variants

EPS, universal format for programs aside from Illustrator and other Versions

..that eps has limited uses, and in general that pdf is the way to go.

If the client does not have any preferences; a good practice would be to give them an .eps and a pdf and an svg file in addition to jpg/png in different sizes. If you also are making a black/white logo, do the same with that.

I personally see no use in gifs anymore.

Oh. And if they actually have Illustrator, I would certainly give them an ai too.

EPS is not entirely pointless. Alan is correct for print, but there are many reasons one should still provide an EPS -- embroidery, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, and many other industries still use equipment only capable of using EPS files. And even then, sometimes only Illustrator 8 EPS files. If providing a logo an EPS is, in my opinion, still a mandatory format to include. And if you can't flatten the art for EPS... it's not a solid logo to begin with.
– ScottMar 29 '14 at 7:55

1

In my experience over the last few years, it's extraordinarily rare to run into a provider who requires EPS. The only two I've encountered since around 2005 were both small mom and pop signage/screen print places with old equipment. When I send to professional NC engravers and laser cutting shops or large signage firms it's always PDF, Illustrator 10 or AutoCAD files.
– Alan GilbertsonMar 29 '14 at 16:59

There seems to be several answers recommending JPG. This seems like a poor choice of format for a logo. Can you explain the reason?
– JBentleyMar 30 '14 at 4:09

i think its easy to live in a buble where eps is not used. But its still good to have for most clients. Technically no production shop would need autocad files if they ask they could probably open a wider range of files than you can produce. The just dont know this. Same thing here. Same gies for jpeg.
– joojaaMar 30 '14 at 6:24

Really grateful for all your comments and answers. Have learned so much by just reading the back and forth on this thread! Many thanks.
– HVitaeMar 31 '14 at 15:46

Illustrator gives you the option to change the Version, to which you will save the .AI file as.

As Bart stated, Is it possible to ask the client what format he/she prefers?

Version compatibility is a concern for layout rendering, editing features and certain attributes. Client version compatibility should be your guideline.

As far as exporting into other formats, you could give the client a few different logo formats and alternate color schemes. You can choose from:

.ai (illustrator native)

.png (web, transparency)

.gif (web optional)

.jpg (social media)

.pdf (vector + raster, high res, print)

.pdf (low res, proofs)

.svg (scalable vector)

.eps (printing vector)

It really depends on the needs of the client. You should discuss with your client and ascertain their needs more fully. At a minimum, you should provide the logo to your client in the following file formats:

I'd say if client gives no preference for file format instructions, they probably won't know how to utilize either .eps or .svg but the .ai always provides that export option for anyone needing those formats later.
– Joshua34Mar 28 '14 at 20:46

I think you're missing the point. The eps is an exchange format that can be opened by various programs in the suite (you don't need Illustrator), is backwards compatible, and is essentially a simplified version for post script printers. You'd have a better argument if you said that .pdf was making .eps obsolete-- .svg is open source and you don't need Adobe products to open it, I don't understand how an .ai file which is limited in its program scope is better than those two options are, other then the aforementioned slightly bloated file size.
– Adam SchuldMar 28 '14 at 22:06

1

I agree with Adam. EPS is still an almost mandatory format for logotypes. Dont' get tunnel vision and assume client swill always be dealign with reproduction methods which allow a PDF workflow. There are a ton of them out there which do not.
– ScottMar 29 '14 at 7:57

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